As we launched the new collection last week, I was able to reflect on an underlying thread that had nothing to do with the inspiration, color, or stories behind the new season. It occurred to me that there may be an invisible connection among the many choices I make in putting a collection together, as this season featured more fabrics with performance characteristics than ever before. Perhaps the ideas of sports, active lifestyles, and being outdoors under the sun were factors in choosing performance fabrications, but upon further reflection I realize that when I have a choice between a traditional fabric (something without stretch or easy-care finishing, for example) and a fabric with a pro-performance quality, I naturally gravitate toward the latter in all aspects.
This week I want to focus on two areas of performance in the collection that may have gone unnoticed. I will follow up next week with more highlights of fabrics that are quickly becoming favorites, though perhaps they didn’t get much attention in the launch of the season.
Each season that I work with Reda Flexo, I appreciate more and more how smart the Reda 1865 management team was to foresee the need for this division, where they marry the tradition of wool manufacturing with true active technology. The resulting fabrics for modern suiting continue to provide options that guys respond to really well. Not only were we able to broaden the range of essential fabrics from Reda with new colorations and subtle pattern work, we were also able to add a beautiful stretch hopsack in Mayfair Blue (RDA58), which has sustainable stretch. Hopsack is a traditional menswear fabric that is typically used for traditional blazer style sportcoats. This twist on a classic from Reda Flexo gives a whole new modern character to these garments, making them feel more stylish and sophisticated. A Reda Flexo fabric, married to our half-lined sportcoat construction and one of our playful lining options, transforms a classic sportcoat into a comfortable, breathable jacket that’s effortless to wear and super easy to travel with. I often think of guys like myself who spend a lot of time in and out of a car—we need a sportcoat that doesn’t have to be taken on and off all day long. The Reda Flexo selections are designed to be worn in a modern way, so they work perfectly for busy, on-the-go guys.
Within our new shirting collection, we continue to partner with both Ratti and Canclini. Each of these qualities are quickly evolving into their own strong categories, unlike anything else you can find in shirts. The silky drape and super soft fabric speak to a modern guy who doesn’t compromise on comfort or style.
Ratti is a storied print mill from the region of Como (yes, the beautiful lake where George Clooney and Donatella Versace have homes). This mill has a vast archive—decades of history of prints exclusively designed for some of the biggest names in the luxury world. They continue to evolve and develop as one of the few remaining print mills in the world. When working with the Ratti selectionI am spoiled with choices of intricate prints and a certain definition of line that is rarely found anywhere else. I fell in love with their miniature novelty prints, and I know you’ll love them, too. We have been able to offer this quality in solids as well, and of course because of the stretch quality of the fabric, we are comfortable offering it as a knit alternative for polos and tees. Our Ratti quality is a nylon base with 5% elastane, which offers wicking and breathability. These qualities make Ratti shirts perfect for an on-the-move lifestyle, keeping you feeling cool and looking fresh all day long. This fabric doesn’t wrinkle anywhere near as easily as cotton fabric does, so it keeps a tidy appearance—great for a travel shirt or polo choice.
Canclini is another storied mill I love to partner with. This mill produces exceptional quality fabrics, as it has evolved its production from traditional cotton looms and weaving into performance compositions that borrow more from the sports world. Their digital printing is a little more limited, but the fabric composition of 73% nylon and 27% elastane is decidedly softer and more like a knit than any woven cloth. This makes it the perfect hybrid fabric for shirts and knits. For the summer launch, we will also be offering this quality in solids, with some bright colors that will work beautifully for your new summer polos. The comfort and breathability of this fabric, whilst similar to Ratti, makes it the least traditional, and most technical, shirting fabric we offer. It’s a perfect choice if you’re more active, especially when it comes to knit golf attire. Like Ratti, it looks good all day long, stretches beyond expectations and has a bright, clean appearance. You really can’t ask for anything more from a fabric quality, and Canclini seems to be paving the way for the future of similar fabrics across categories. When tradition and experience are combined with cutting-edge technology, the result is a new and exciting world of fabric options that speak to your modern style and your modern lifestyle.
